Liverpool have a dominant lead at the top of the Premier League despite points dropped against Fulham but Arne Slot and the Liverpool hierarchy will look to strengthen their hand in the January transfer window.
The Reds manager has replaced Jurgen Klopp to excellent effect so far but will be desperate to avoid standing still as other teams in the Premier League make moves in the transfer market at the start of the new year.
According to reporting from Caught Offside, Liverpool will go head to head with a league rival in January to capture the signature of a 21-year-old Belgian forward who's caught the eye in Holland's Eredivisie.
Johan Bakayoko developed at Mechelen and Anderlecht before joining PSV in 2019. Primarily a right winger, he worked his way into the first team set-up in Eindhoven and has been a target for Newcastle United for some time.
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But with PSV expected to hold out for a fee of £50 million and Newcastle needing to keep a handle on their spending to remain compliant with the Premier League's profit and sustainability regulations, Liverpool are reported to be ready to hijack the move and take Bakayoko to Anfield.
Bakayoko has played more than 100 times for PSV since making his senior debut in Feburary 2022, scoring 27 goals and claiming 22 assists. He's scoring a goal every other game in the Eredivisie this season and his suitors in the Premier League will also have noted that his progression of the ball has improved across the board in 2024-25.
Liverpool's interest is in part a response to continuing doubt over the future of Mohamed Salah, though Bakayoko is eleven years younger than the Egyptian and a possible long-term option regardless of how Salah's contract situation plays out at Anfield. The Belgian's contract at PSV expires in June 2026.
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Eddie Howe and Newcastle can draw on the considerable talents of Anthony Gordon and Harvey Barnes on the left but are more limited on the right, where 29-year-old Jacob Murphy is the outstanding candidate ahead of Miguel Almiron.
He's also the younger of the two, so while his return of two goals and four assists this season demonstrates some end product to go with his consistent play outside striker Alexander Isak, the longer term future calls for new blood on Tyneside too.
Topics: Liverpool, Liverpool Transfer News & Rumours, Arne Slot, Mohamed Salah
Chris Nee